Are You Normal?

Is It Normal that I hate the South

76% Normal

I have a supreme dislike (some would say hate) for the southern states of the US. On the whole, I like the country, I think that we are a very progressive and open minded country except for one region....THE SOUTH

This particularly ugly region of America is responsible for 90% of the negative stereotypes of the country. I count the south as anywhere in the bible belt (but can't decide whether or not I include Texas...). I have zero tolerance for those stupid, so-called "self-educated" southerners who have never had an original thought in their lives. They are so blind and can't see past the end of their bibles! Not to say I am agains religion, but I am against closed-minded ignorance paraded by the bible thumpers. We passed separation of church and state over 200 years ago for a reason. I also dislike the poverty, the south is rampant with it. Yet they are also the first to complain and give every excuse for the state of their own sad, poor lives. Least we forget that it is the fattest region of the country and the most illiterate, least college educated, and the shotrest life expectancy. Haven't they realised that god isn't going to spoon-feed them and they need to get off their lazy lipid bearing frames and be proactive. I also can't stand the accents. To me they simply SCREAM ignorance, but at this point it is more an association I have with this pityful place.

I am sure there are some good people there, and not everyone is a bible-thumping, racist, extremist. In fact i have met several of them and they have been nothing but polite and well-spoken. I am, however, displeased with the slur-speaking, gun-bearing, bible-thumping culture as a whole and think that they are the region crippling the country. They need a shape up fast!

For one anyplace that Sarah Palin feels at home is not ok. Second, lets just face that the south is unproductive... I mean their last great invention was the cotton gin right? Don't even get me started on the habit of the Christian Right (which is based in the south)using the bible as a thinly veiled excuse for hatred. The north may have its problems but seriously at least we have a clearer world view on our sides. It may just be that I am educated or something but I completely agree with this kid. O and Zac Efron is a d-bag.

Yes there are ignorant bible thumping racists who can barely speak English in the south but they are mostly in the country backwoods or small towns. People in the cities are actully tolerant and highly educated

Furthermore... So who does have the most segregated cities in the US? According to recent census reports, it is certainly not the South. According to these same reports, the top most racially divided cities in the United States are northern cities. Yes, lets repeat that again. According to these same reports, the top most racially divided cities in the United States are northern cities. Strangely, among all these “racist” cities in the South, that none of them appear on the top 10 list of being the most racially divided. The number one city for racial segregation is Milwaukie, WI. Number 2 is New York City, then Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland and Buffalo. Where is racial tension the worst? Yankees want you to believe it is in the so-called, "racist" South where all the "rednecks" and "hillbillies" reside. I love their "progressive" and "open minded" attitudes towards others. HA!! If we do a little research, we can find that most race riots over the past 100 years have occurred above the Mason Dixon line. Let’s start with the Chicago race riots of 1919 which resulted in 23 African Americans deaths. Other Yankee cities to experience race riots were Philadelphia in 1917, Harlem in 1935 and in 1943. Detroit also saw race riots in 1943. Several race riots broke out across the north in 1964, which included the cities of Rochester, NY, New York City, Philadelphia, Jersey City, Paterson, Elizabeth, NJ and Chicago. In 1966, more race riots broke out this time in Hough, OH. and once again in Chicago. We still aren’t finished because in 1967 race riots broke out in Plainfield, NJ, Milwaukee and Minneapolis.. One of the deadliest riots to occur was the 1967 Newark, NJ riots, which resulted in 26 dead, and many injured. During 1968, more racial tension broke out in more northern cities. These included, New York City, Chicago, Pittsburgh and Summit, IL just to name only a few among the many race riots that occurred during that year. In 1970, Asbury Park, New Jersey broke out into race riots. There were so many race riots up north that I can’t possibly list every one of them. Even in modern times, race riots still occur in northern cities such as the Cincinnati Riots of 2001. So who is bigoted, segregated and so full of hate and intolerance?

I live in the South. I have a flat screen T.V., Dell XPS laptop, x-Box 360 Call of Duty Modern Warefare edition, an iPhone, and pretty much every other electronic device you could ask for. At school most of my classes are computer oriented.

I just happend to go on a road trip across America this past summer. From Miami to Washington State. Went through Tennessee, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Alabama,..ect. I'm black and not too religious btw. I met some of the most welcoming and gracious people during my travels in the south. It just so happens that when we reached Idaho, we encountered several kkk rallys and my first personal encounter with racism during that trip. Idaho is not in the south. (it was amazing other than that btw) All I have to say is you may not be ignorant but you're definately naive. Get around.

Dude "Try to explain someone in the south about computers " First of all I have alienware pc and I know what CPU is ram,memory, graphics , and a few other parts of the pc.My dad is a doctor so we are not stupid and at least I can spell.

I've lived in the South for most of my life. I have a Masters in Economics- and although I'm no egghead, I rarely meet anyone of northern OR southern provenance who impresses me with their intellect. Most Americans are dummies, regardless of where they live. Think about it: We elected a cognitively impaired, barely literate cokehead to the presidency TWICE! And since most polls say that 90% of Americans believe in God, I doubt the South is the only place you will find religious zealotry and intolerance. By the way, the stupidest sounding accents in the U.S. in my opinion are the various NYC ethnic speech patterns. They are coming down here in droves now, and it is beginning to irritate me. Talk about bad grammar.

I am from the South, I have a Masters Degree, I'm not a member of the religious right. I am a progressive Democrat who voted for Obama. I hated George Bush. I like the friendliness of the South bit I hate the racism, ignorance and the religious right. Down her it's all guns, God and abortion. Actually I would like to live in New Zealand. I hate the politics and the guns in this country.

I have traveled and lived all over the US. I found the cities up north to be the most racially segregated cities I have ever seen.. Although most any Yankee will tell you they are not racist, as in this post, what I found was quite the opposite! Some of the most racially divided cities are in the north and they are full of hate. Don't let the Yanks false words fool you, their divided cities say a lot. The people there do not mix with other races, as the majority of northern cities are broken down into racially divided neighborhoods. Outside of these cities, it is virtually lily-white. In the smaller towns and countryside there is little or no cultural diversity like the South. Northerners from the smaller areas and the countryside are rarely if ever exposed to a diverse population. A typical ignorant Yankee will claim that the South is bigoted and segregated. The reality is there is plenty of segregation and racial division in the so-called, "enlighten and progressive" north. Yankees are very uneducated when it comes to divirsity.

The finest cities of the north..The city of Detroit is a fine example of their so-called, "progressiveness". Detroit is in utter ruins, really, it has to be the worst American city there is. The city consistently ranks the highest in violent crime statistics. The city is ran by corrupt officials such as the recent mayor, Kwame Kilpatrick, who was in and out of jail and prison several times due to various criminal offenses. Block after city block in Detroit is full of abandoned homes and boarded up businesses of long ago. Another fine "progressive" city is the infamous, Mistake by the Lake, otherwise known as Cleveland, OH. This city is known for its downtown river fire. Once the Cuyahoga River was so polluted it caught fire!! Even the mayors hair burst into flames once while on public television. Once a city of almost a million people in the 1950's it has now lost over 500,000 people since then. Ohioans love to claim that this joke of a city has changed over the years, but Cleveland is still the same old run down, dirty mess its been for the past 40 years! Besides Detroit and Cleveland there are other northern messes that include Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Newark, NJ, among only a few. The north can also proudly lay claim to some of the most dangerous cities too. Cities like, Detroit, Flint, Camden and Youngstown are consistently at the top of many lists for having the highest crime rates in the country. By the thousands, the Yankee invasion continues! Not only is Cleveland losing its population but the entire state of Ohio seems to be trying to move south to be with us "terrible, ignorant, racist, southern hillbillies". This is not only true with Ohioans but with all Yankees. There are so many Yankee license plates in my county that it makes one wonder if there is anyone left up there in frozenYankeeland. The South has a rich, diverse cuture.The South has a distinct, diverse culture, unlike the north. What does the north have? Nothing but blandness and an accent that no one wants to hear repeated. People from outside of the South always ask a Southerner to please repeat something because they love to hear our beautiful accent. I’ve never heard anyone ask a Yankee to repeat something in their horrid, bland irritating accent. There is nothing worse than hearing a typical New England accent from New York City, Philadelphia or Boston. Yankees are so jealous of the South. But don't hate us because we are a beautiful people with a beautiful, rich culture full of diversity.

1) Many people move to the south because it is a lot cheaper to live there (not as appealing). 2) I cannot say for sure, but I would assume that the lack of diversity in northern cities stems from socioeconomic differences. People are not forced to segregate (like they used to in the south before forward thinking people like JFK became powerful and forced forced them), but there just happens to be nice and bad arias. The south being one cheap/ bad area.3) don't even try to say ANY accent can sound as ignorant as a southern one... And you referenced New York as a part of New England... WRONG! Learn geography.4) the south would be nothing if it wasn't piggy-backing on the innovations, society and hard work of the north. Lincoln's biggest mistake wasn't allowing the southern states to leave and fail on their own.5) southerners and Bible Belt residents should try picking up a book other then a bible.

I understand exactely what you mean. I have lived in 3 southern states &I have lived in the south my whole life. but both of my parents are from up north and most of my family lives in the north too. I personally have a love/hate relationship with the south.

The south definitely has a reputation for being close-minded and ignorant. &I have to be honest..its not far from the truth. While not everyone if ignorant and close-minded..there is definitely alot of that. And most of the people that arent ignorant and close-minded are from the north or have simply traveled alot.

Its funny because I am soo use to the ignorance and judgemental people of the south, that when I go up north I am shocked by how open minded and well educated the people are there. Though, there is ignorance in both the north and south...it seems to be especially prevalent in the south.

I do like some parts of the south though...and I am definitely glad that I have been able to get the best of both worlds (north and south)...and the worst. Its made me alot more well-rounded in that I can relate and talk to people better.

Come to find out, the South is NOT the most overweight after all...Southerners are just more honest about their weight in phone polls. In a recent study that actually weighed and measured waist size the South ranked #4 and not #1.

I have lived all over the US and overseas and live in the South now. Before you make your judgements try and mice beyond the sterotype. And for the record Chicago had more blatant racism than charllote nc.

I actually live in Southeastern Louisiana. I've been told that I don't really have an accent. One thing I have to wonder is have you ever been to the south yourself or is most of this based off of what you see in the media? I cring when I watch the waterboy and watching dirty jobs you see Mike Rowe go out on a lot of dirty fishing/sort of stereotypical southern jobs. Sure we have that here but it really only represents a small portion of the population. The state I live in has parishes instead of counties because of our strong Catholic background. That has its influence on us and a lot of people I know are very religious and recognize religious symbols much quicker than people who aren't from here but there are plenty of people in my area who are athiests. I have a cousin who lives in Mississippi that speaks with a thick accent but got a 35 on the ACT.Seriously though, your rant is really harsh. Really make an attempt to understand these places before you write them off completely.

I think it's hilarious how angry people are getting. Y'know, I'm not gonna yell or anything. It's kinda pointless. Im from Texas. We're not ignorant or anything. The only thing that gives away that I'm southern is that I say 'y'all'. And I love it. You only get all that stuff you're talking about in the DEEP DEEP DEEP rural areas. I was born and raised in Houston, and I now live in a tiny town that no one on here has ever heard of, so yeah. It's pretty beautiful down here so y'all come visit. Haha. :)

I grew up in new England until I was ten, moved to Georgia, and lived there until I was 22. I came back to new England to realize how fortunate I was in the south . The area I lived in was extremely wealthy, I saw little poverty although it's in every state regardless of region. Because education is extremely important there, the state gives all lottery money to college scholarships. I literally can't name anyone from my high school of 2200 students without some college education. Here in new England I am one of very few with a degree and am shocked at how few people here care about education. There is more povery and, ugh, welfare where I live now. You should visit before you judge!

Is Florida considered to be the south? But anyways, The south is nothing like you think it is. I understand, their are some some redneck people, but there's no need to hate on them. Mind your own business. We are ONE nation dude, the united states of America, not the south and north.

Okay i was born and raised in Texas. And this is where i choose to raise my kids. we don't automatically hate people of different color or religion. I am educated, i do own a gun and i have all my teeth. please please do your research throughly before making such ignorant observations.

Yes im from NY and i also hate the south, on the surface like yourself. The reason you hate the south is because you love the idea of being a northeast elitist and like to maintain the notion of the southern boy going to his KKK meetings at night when hes not working as a mechanic during the day. This is fun to talk about around the watercooler about 'the wierd shit you saw on your vacation to virgina beach'. I often say when i meet a southern guy 'yo do you guys eat dirt down there, i heard pregnant women eat dirt'. Sometime it is fun keeping the hate alive. All i have to say, is wake the fuck up, its not the fucking 1800s. I know just as many rednecks in NY that listen to country music and fucking NASCAR than i care to know. No matter what it is you do, whether engineering, cyber security, whatever, there is some dirty redneck out there with a pair of levis and cow shit on his sneaker that knows more about your education/job then you ever will!! Be true to yourself, know your own bullshit before asking a forum of people.

The South not only has a wonderful and beautiful accent and people, but our food is the best as well. The South can lay claim to Soul food, Creole, Cajun, Lowcountry, and Floribbean Dishes to name a few. Food such as Jambalaya from Louisiana, or a tasty South Carolina Low Country boil or excellent BBQ in Tennessee or the Carolinas. There is nothing like country cooking, southern style.. Then there is southwestern Tex-Mex food from Texas.. Every part of the US loves Southern style cooking. But who has ever heard of great cooking or delicious food from New Jersey or for that matter any state in the north? What would that be exactly, road kill from a Jersey Turnpike?

In the South, we strive to preserve the African American culture expecially along the Sea Islands of the Southeast coast. The Gullah and Geechee people who have managed all these years to keep their original African language and way of life, but the racist northern aggressors continue to erode away their way of life little by little by stealing their coastal land and stripping them of their heritage. All the transplanted Yankee cares about is taking and using up our beautiful natural resources and ruining what is left of our heritage and its people. They can care less about Dixie's people and her many years of rich Southern culture and way of life. We Southerners enjoy our easy way of life. We enjoy sitting on the porch during a hot afternoon and listening to the chirps of crickets or birds while we sip on some good ole southern sweetened iced tea or jumping in a swimming hole on a hot summer afternoon or eating a fresh Georgia Peach from a roadside stand. We are proud of our accents, our way of life and our culture. Don’t bring your blandness, nasty attitudes, ignorance and fast pace of life here and then put us down and expect us to be kind to you. If it is such a terrible place and if you don’t like it here in the South or her people then I suggest that you keep your Yankee ass at home, up north, where it belongs and quit moving to the South by the thousands!

I am origianally from cincinnati ohio. However I have lived in the south longer than I have any other region. There are a lot of things about the south that really get on my nerver. Southern pride, the souths gonna rise again ect ect. But there are a lot of great people in the south. The truth is there are great people all over this country. I am a evangelist who travels and there are people all of the country who believe in Jesus Christ. To make balnket statements about any region of the country is truley a good indicator of a close minded person. It dosent matter is it is southerners making judgement on northerners or vice versa. If a person spent time in diffrent regions of the great country you will find that people have a lot if things in commom. God bless

I bear the accent and the guns of a west virginian. I also inherited the loyalty, patriotic, and independent qualities that come along with being a Mountaineer.I can do anything I want to- I drive a jeep and my dog is my best friend and I have a fridge full of moonshine.Also, I'm a geophysicist.So...fuck you. I'll take my country roads any day. And if you break down in my state, you're more than welcome in our homes.

U jerk! I'm a southerner Ok I don't know anyone like that ... Ok YOU are steryotyping here! That was unkind and u know what we are independant u idiots in the north want the government to take over and they'll turn us into a socialist country u just wait ok ? Yeah so keeps ur rude comments to urself yank

I live in the south and I do hate that we get a reputation for being totally stupid. I think, like everywhere, it has it's good and bad points. For instance, a lot of great music has come from the south. However, I have to agree, that living here is a bit irritating when a lot of my neighbors don't work for a living, but instead live off of my taxes. And, I have to pass them every day on my route to work. They just sit there in the same spot every day eating pringles and waving at me. And, that's why we're the largest people probably, because a lot of the population thinks they deserve to have things handed to them and refuse to work for a living. So, all they do is sit, watch television, and eat. That system is totally warped because these are otherwise healthy people living off of my tax money. They're just too darn lazy to get a job. That burns me up the most about living here. But, the sunsets are beautiful and our musical heritage is awesome.

The South gets pounded for having slaves but rly, we weren't the 1st ones, and we were for the most part actually nice to them. I know there are exceptions of course, but leave the south alone and stop hatin'!

Wow.... just... wow. That was one of the arguments the south used to defend slavery.

The argument that they actually liked it and they treated them well, so it was better for them. Never mind that they hated it and it was in reality an incredibly cruel position. Conditions did vary plantation to plantation, but overall their families were separated, many were worked until they died (until it became economically more beneficial to keep them healthy since slave importation was banned in 1808), and women faced relentless sexual abuse.

For the record, yes, Europe did have slaves before America was even founded in the form of colonies. However, this was indentured servitude, and something very, very different from the slavery we know the south adopted. Slaves were white, treated well, and were only indentured for a set period of time. They were freed after that, and their children did not inherit their position. They were treated much more fairly and kindly than slaves were in the south. Slavery at that time was not a racial thing

Slavery evolved into what it was for the south to feed the sugar labor requirements in the caribbean and to feed the south's "king cotton" monster that has ultimately left it far behind the rest of the US even now, since it failed to industrialize and pick up with the rest of the world. The north, because of the nature of its agriculture and later its industrial development, had little use for slaves and quickly adopted the antislavery position on moral grounds. The south made slavery a much more cruel, disgusting, more monstrous thing than it had ever been previously, and it made it a far larger and and more racial phenomenon than it had ever been.

Well. That is your opinion and you have the right to that opinion. I am sorry that you feel that way about us southerners. I, for one am not a bible thumper, am very well educated with a wonderful career, but I do know what you mean. We can not even get electronic bingo passed because it is considered gambling nor can we get the lottery in Alabama. We can however have strip clubs and alcohol sales on Sunday because of the needed revenue. We can go to Tennessee or Mississippi and give them our money though and help their schools. Go figure. I can assure you that there are plenty of open minded people here. Yes, there is poverty. Particularly in the deep south. I also seem to recall that there are also major poverty levels elsewhere Up north, out west and also east. It doesn't exist only in the south. As for the people themselves, we are hospitable and polite. We say please and thank you. I have traveled all over and can honestly say that the south is genuinely nicer. We are laid back. We do not get in a hurry and a scurry. We take life in and enjoy it. So less stressful. Yes, we have rednecks. So does the rest of the country. We are not so different from everyone else. And our state and Tennessee are beautiful. Especially Tennessee in the fall. Anyways., come down for visit and see how times have changed!! Oh yeah, every state has people that want to live on handouts by the way. It's everywhere, that is not secluded either. By Ya'll!!!!

The South is great. We are very friendly and hospitable, but we don't like to be pushed around. Many of us may not be wealthy or college graduates, but we work hard for what we do have. We can't help our accents. No matter where you're from, you have one yourself. We don't go around lynching black people or treating them cruelly. They are friends and family to us. You sound as though you are the racist one. You've got some serious issues.

You are the one who is an uneducated illiterate fool if you honestly believe what you wrote. I live in Southern Louisiana, and I am currently in the 10th grade. You talk about how we create stereotype, well you, my friend, are the one creating stereotypes. Just because you may have met a few people that were ignorant doesn’t mean we all are. As in every region of the country, there are the well- educated citizens and the poorly educated. I just want to let you know how open we are. At my school there is gay-straight alliance club. Over here we don’t care about race. You like people because of who they are, not what color their skin or what religion they believe in. Also, last time I checked, freedom of religion is protected in the United States Constitution. You need to get a life and start considered how prejudice you are, and stop talking trash about the South.

That's not nomal. Sorry but it's also inaccurate. Wow. NASA. University of Texas. T A&M. Texas medical center with Dr. Debakey who did the first heart transplant. The Dallas Cowboys! Your anger and bias are misplaced. Generalizing a region is impossible based on fact. But you are entitled to your opinion. LOL.

In my opinion it is perfectly normal. We share exactly the same view. Congratulations, mate, for this great description of both mine and yours anti-dixie view. Btw, it can in no way be described as generalization of Southerners, but rather an opinion that Bible Belt is the conservative hell which contributes to the regression of USA. Sometimes I think that if I was American I would maybe loath why Lincoln didn't let them go, making me ashamed to call myself an American.

It truly has in my opinion. Another reason they hate the South. While the rest of the country is falling apart, the South is literally booming. We're growing like never before and the cost of living is much lower than the rest of the country. You know what they say "Haters gonna hate"

Although I try to avoid making blanket statements about subcultures, I must say that as a Mid-Westerner who has lived in the South for the past 7 years, I think that the Southern mentality is directly at odds with progressive and rational/enlightenment values. In my experience, most of the native southerners I have interacted with possess a tribal mentality, where they are empathetic to members of their own group, but often outwardly hostile to people they deem as outsiders. Just as Western Europeans can spot an American tourist a mile away, southerners know who the non-southerners are and tend to treat them accordingly. I am miserable in my current location of Georgia because I feel that I am surrounded by a mass population of people undergoing a state of arrested development. It's truly tragic, and due to their willful ignorance, 'southern pride' and good ol' boy mentalities, Southerners will be left behind by modernity. In my experience, the South deserves the label of being backwards. Any non-southerners accustomed to living life through a progressive/rational worldview, please reconsider the decision to relocate to the Bible belt. Over time, you will regret it.

Hmmm....interesting, mozzyman. I have lived in the Deep South all my life and my experience hasn't been the same as yours at all. I will say, that when I went "up North" (yes, that's really what my family called it when I went away to school) for graduate school, it was the first time in my life that I that I was the object of discrimination. I was the only Southerner in my MBA class at an Ivy League school in upstate New York...and even some of the professors poked fun (and not in a nice way) of my accent. Other students, primarily from the NY-tri-state area, made fun of me, asked me if I lived on a farm, and asked me if I had running water or cable. Idiots! I truly felt prejudged and mistreated by my mostly Northern classmates (and even the professors, sometimes.) Not very nice...not very nice at all. However, I'm tough, and I made it through...and I think I changed some peoples' opinions about the South and Southerners along the way. Wouldn't choose to go back. The interesting this is...it's all a matter of perception and acclimation. The first time I came back home to visit after being in NY for a few months, behaviors that had seemed friendly and genteel to me a few months prior seemed supremely inefficient and irritating. (I'm referring to a clerk in a store, chatting interminably while taking her sweet time wrapping and bagging my purchase.) How we change when we are exposed to new behavioral norms! My mother even chastised me a couple of times for "acting rude" and I was suprised...what seemed like normal behavior after a few months of living up North was perceived as "rude" by my family.

In my experience, the South is NOT in a state of arrested development...and I think my perception is different than yours because I've lived in the bigger cities (currently Houston, prior to that, Atlanta) and they are more progressive than the more rural parts of the South. I'm not saying they're as cosmopolitan as say, New York, but they've not like the smaller, more rural cities. It IS generally true that I can spot a non-Southerner quickly...but contrary to your experience, I try to extend that person, who is so obviously 'out of his element' :) Southern courtesy and hospitality.

OK...now I am just going on and on to avoid finishing my term paper. Let me know if what I've said resonates with you at all.

lived a lot of places, i do call the south a part of me. Living now in north. I have found it amazing the blue collar working man puts up with so much crap. where up this way it is not put up with. I have learned that the southern worker has not a clue nor other ppl in the south. The needed education is not on average given in the south. I THINK the original thread is awful accurate. But does say enough of why. oh my my my, the poor south.

I've lived in Louisiana and Mississippi and I hate both States. people down here are haters and control freaks in my experiences with them. They are intrusive, overbearing,ill mannered, and obnoxious down here. They are also fat. VERY FAT! It is impossible to interact with some, if not most of them, on any kind of intellect. If you demonstrate you have any sort of knowledge about anything, they're quick to dismiss that with some stupid attitude and then insult you with a lame remark. To get along down here, you have to ACT dumb in order to try and not stick out like a sore thumb or something. I hate it here. Can't wait to leave it all behind. The south can go to hell.

I think it IS normal for many people to experience a dislike of or disdain for the South and Southerners...but that doesn't make it RIGHT...or an informed decision. Many of the things you mention...illiteracy, ignorance, racism, and poverty are stereotypes...but just because they're stereotypes doesn't mean they're not also true!

I was born in Southern Mississippi and except for a couple of years in college and some misspent time in Florida, I've lived in the Deep South all my life (Mississippi, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and now, Texas.) Admittedly, my "Southern experience" is atypical - my dad was a univerity professor and an entrepreneur - but our family is definitely Southern. My entire family is from the Deep South - mostly Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama.

I supposed I am a study in contrasts. My dad is proud to call himself a redneck...and honestly, I am proud to call myself one, too! I DO have Southern values and I DO read my Bible and witness...BUT, I try not to be overbearing about it. I have two Master's degrees from an Ivy-League University, and I'm working on a third from Case Western Reserve. I say "y'all" and "fixin' to." I often drop terminal consonants when I am speaking with friends or family. My dad gave me a gun for Christmas a few years ago. I think fried chicken is diet food. I am in an interracial marriage - my husband is of Mexican descent. I like to cook, and clean. I am a successful independent consultant. My grandfather - just two generations ahead of me - could not read or write. My mother's home had no running water until she was sixteen.

I am not disagreeing that a lot of what you say about the South is true - it is. BUT, there's more to the story. Just like there are more rural and more cosmopolitan places in other regions of the United States, so it is the case in the South. And I will say that some of the best, most LOYAL, most DECENT people with HIGH INTEGRITY that I have ever known have been Southerners.

Thank you for posting this. For a long time i have felt that was the only one who despised that god forsaken hellhole that much but now i feel better. I honestly wish we could force the south out of the union or carry out a mass genocide and expel thier filth and america could finally move forward

Thanks for posting a most cogent and astute question. Being a practicing mental health professional for almost 20 years, I can say that this is certainly not a normal way of thinking. In a nutshell, this mode of thought is clearly described in the DSM-XX as Numbnuttia Syndrome. Specifically this disorder has genetic roots. Typically, it is seen in the offspring of a orangutan and human. This hybrid is then subjected to to repeated sexual, mental, and physical abuse from both parents as well as other family members who are, incidentally, also the offspring of a orangutan and human. The human,in all cases, comes from north of the Mason-Dixon line. One should see a specialist when they find themselves posting silly, hate-filled diatribes against the inhabitants of the southern U.S. on internet forums. The only known treatment(effective in approx. 40% of cases) is self-abortion as well as the horse they rode in on. Now, if you think this ridiculous you south haters, go back and read your utterly dumbass comments, and ask yourself,"Do I really believe this hateful trash"? If you do, then you truly are the disturbed offspring of an orangutan and human.

I don't understand people that ask these questions. I am from the Deep South in Georgia and it seems just fine. I have something to tell to the Northerns that dislike the South. If you have NEVER been anywhere in the Deep South, don't go around saying that you dislike it without knowing what it's like. As far as we know, the South has its Pro's and Con's. But at least we don't have the people with their Flat Bill hats on backwards and spitting out raps about killing their wives or whatever or even putting a bullet in a random women just to get her purse and kidnap their daughters. I just don't understand, why do you guys hate us so much?

I'm from the south and was born there. All my life I was judged and told I would be nothing by all you southerners. You pieces of shit did nothing but bring me down. Put me in group homes and foster care because that's the only way you cocksuckers make enough money. And tried to send me to a homeless shelter when it was all over after making $2000 a month for me being in foster care. It took a kind hearted northerner to see who I really was and who I could become and that's why I'm successful today with nothing to ever worry about. Because you so called bible religious thumping southerns are the most corrupt and backwards people in America today. You have done nothing but make me hate the south. The place that I should call home I hate with a passion. You say that northerners are rude and crude but get it straight the reason we don't listen is because we know the difference between a person and an animal. And you people are animals. And for the gentleman that said fly over manhattan and see the zoo. Well why don't you fly over your states and see how god forsaken your fucking states have gotten. Our zoo may be in one city but your zoos are all over. I just got to take a plane to gainesville Florida and I would have stepped in a zoo bigger then New York City and Connecticut put together. Go eat that shit you fucking racist fucks.

To the OP: You are obviously a very bigoted person making such sweeping generalizations about an entire region. The South, as defined by the US Census Bureau, is home to approximately 114,000,000 people. It's the most heavily populated region in the US and the fastest growing. You can check the 2010 census to verify that.To hate a region because it is more conservative, generally speaking, is to be quite prejudiced. Additionally, it discounts the fact that there are millions of people there of various political leanings. Christians, Jews, Muslims, Atheists, Pagans, Buddhists, among others, call the South home. Maybe it would be a good thing for you to travel more.As for poverty … I grew up in the South and since moving to the Northeast have seen more poverty and toothless people than I ever saw at home. Don't get me wrong. I love New England and even if it is poorer, or costs more to live here, I don't hate the people who make up the region. I love the realness and genuineness of people wherever I go.Accents? Everyone has an accent. Sarah Palin's and Michelle Bachmann's accents are like nails on a chalkboard to me AND…. they are NORTHERN Conservatives. You feel concerned about what is holding this country back, do you? I think what holds us back more than anything is the divisiveness, shallowness and judgmental attitude of people like you. I hope you learn the lesson of how to accept all people regardless of where they call home. Finally, people like you are the reason so many Southerners have a bad taste in their mouths about Northerners. You are just rude and arrogant and, after all, who likes either of those characteristics?

Cities like Charlotte and Atlanta are some of the fastest growing in the country and most of the people are moving there from the northeast. These cities are newer, cleaner, have less crime, and the people are more polite than those in the north. Yes, in general people are more conservative and religious but Charlotte is one of biggest banking centers in the world and Atlanta is a huge center for television broadcasting and music. There are reasons why the populations in cities like Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Pittsburg, Philadelphia and I think even New York are declining while Atlanta, Charlotte, Raleigh, etc. only grow exponentially.Bible Belt > Rust Belt

I think that it's a bit inaccurate to state that the South as a whole is ignorant and backwards.While there are some unfortunate conservative religious fanatics, there are also many intelligent and progressive thinkers in the South. Have you ever spent time in New Orleans or Lafayette? The french Louisiana culture quite amazing and people are warm and welcoming.

I agree.. in part with you. Those bible thumpin idiots are embarrising, but not all parts of the south are like that. Texas is one of, if not the most progressive and economically successful state(s) in the US. Not to mention Florida especially south florida (which is where im from, is also very wealthy, and not under the bible belt.